Next up was Alicia Keys who performed ‘Girl on Fire’, before reality star Kim Kardashian presented the best song award to Jepson for ‘Call Me Maybe’.

Reformed rockers No Doubt then performed their new single, and the cast of Geordie Shore named Justin Bieber the best male act of the night. The Canadian singer, who was not at the event, recorded a thank you for his fans, saying: “This is the greatest night ever”.

The award for best hip hop act went to Nicki Minaj, while David Guetta won best electronic act.

Other performances included The Killers who took to the stage to play ‘Runaways’.

But Korean pop sensation Psy got the biggest reaction of the night when he played his breakout hit ‘Gangnam Style’ complete with dozens of lookalike dancers.

Del Rey won the best alternative act, beating Arctic Monkeys and Florence + The Machine to the award.

Picking up the best look award for the most stylish act, Swift said: “I am so excited I can’t believe you gave me three awards.”

She added: “I’m kind of insecure in general so this is great for my self-confidence”.

Boyband One Direction won best new act, before Keys picked up the Global Icon Award on behalf of the family of the late Whitney Houston and praised the singer’s “incredible ability to captivate and mesmerise us”.

She told the audience Houston “was my home girl, my friend” before introducing a tribute video which included messages from One Direction and Lady Gaga.

Bieber won another award when he was named best pop act, before Linkin Park won best rock act.

The Jonas Brothers handed the best worldwide act to Chinese singer Han Geng. The best video award was won by Psy, who thanked his fans and his family for living with “a selfish job with a selfish guy”.

There was also a video tribute to Beastie Boy Adam Yauch who died this year, before Swift closed the show with her huge hit ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’.